The Nigerian government is taking steps to reduce the country’s dependence on imported medicines by launching a major training program for local pharmaceutical companies. This training will help boost the production of high-quality heart-related medicines within the country.
This effort is being led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in partnership with the Presidential Initiative on Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). Other partners include Resolve to Save Lives and the University of Abuja Cardiovascular Research Centre.
The main aim of the training is to help Nigerian manufacturers follow international standards known as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). These rules ensure that medicines, especially those used for high blood pressure and heart diseases, are made safely and effectively.
Fatima Gawuna from PVAC said the goal is to strengthen local drug manufacturing so Nigeria can rely less on foreign medicines. Right now, over 70% of drugs used in the country are imported. By making more medicines locally, she explained, Nigeria can create jobs, lower treatment costs, and even become a key supplier in Africa and beyond.
Several groups are backing this project, including Quamed, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation, and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN).
Dr. Kufor Osi, who works with Resolve to Save Lives, highlighted how important the training is for controlling hypertension in Nigeria. Out of the 30 million Nigerians who have high blood pressure, only 12% have it under control. He said that producing top-quality cardiovascular drugs locally would improve treatment access and bring down prices.
The training covered a wide range of topics like quality control, lab practices, risk management, and keeping manufacturing areas clean. These are all important for meeting GMP certification requirements.
Mrs. Talatu Yahaya Kassim, speaking for the Health Ministry, said the government will continue to support local drug makers by offering incentives such as waivers on raw materials and other needed components. The long-term goal, she explained, is to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported drugs and grow the local pharmaceutical industry to meet both local and international demand.
